FUGRO GEOSCIENCEFUGRO GEOSCIENCE

Marine Seismic Acquisition :Experience from projects in environmentally sensitive areas

November 2002

• Fugro-Geoteam A.S.

• The Seismic Tool - description

• Environmental Goals

• Areas of Operations

• Mitigation Measures

• Effects of the Seismic Tool

• Future

• Conclusions

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Fugro-Geoteam EXPERIENCEFugro-Geoteam EXPERIENCE

Fugro-Geoteam VesselsFugro-Geoteam Vessels

Geo Pacific

Geo Arctic

Geo Baltic

Fugro-Geoteam VesselsFugro-Geoteam Vessels

GeoPacific Back Deck Source arrays

Icing in Antarctica

Fugro-Geoteam VesselsFugro-Geoteam Vessels

GeoPacific Back Deck

System Deployed

The Seismic ToolThe Seismic Tool

The Seismic ToolThe Seismic Tool

Not to Scale

Environmental GoalsEnvironmental Goals

FGAS - Policy is to manage its business and to provide services in such a way that it minimises the risk to the health and safety of its employees and other persons onboard, and the risk of damage or harm to the environment and wildlife. Fugro-Geoteam AS shall not only comply with health, safety and environmental measures as required by law, but shall also act positively to prevent injury, ill health, damage and loss arising from its operations, and provide a safe and healthy working environment for its employees.

IAGC – Mission is to optimize the business climate and commercial health of the geophysical industry, and to promote the conduct of business in a professional, safe and environmentally responsible manner.

Clients – All clients that we work for have specific policies to reduce risk to the environment. The level of requirement and dedication varies according to each company’s corporate leadership and values.

Specific Areas of CommentSpecific Areas of Comment

2 Australia / Antarctica

Australia Tasmania

UK Offshore

Gulf of Mexico-US

Comments - ProceduralComments - Procedural

UK Offshore – Regulated by the Joint Nature Conservation committee (JNCC) “The JNCC will continue to look at PON 14 (seismic) applications and assess the need for Marine Mammal Observers on a case by case basis” The JNCC sets requirements based on animal habitat and in some cases none are required (Southern North Sea) and in others such as summer north of 57 degrees two are required due to long daylight hours.

Gulf of Mexico-US - MMS regulations in progress, currently require Marine Mammal observation, logging and certain start up procedures. Ongoing discussions between MMS and NOAA Fisheries to further enhance mitigation measures.

Comments - ProjectsComments - Projects

Australia / Antarctica – Two surveys 2001 – Duration 87 days

Surveying up to the ice edge ( WD > 1000 M) FGAS used dedicated marine mammal observer onboard vessel.Surveying in WD < 1000 M used off duty personnel as marine mammal observers. 240 Whale sightings with one shutdown required

2002 – Duration 96 daysSame criterea as above34 Whale sightings with no shutdown required

Comments - ProjectsComments - Projects

Australia – TasmaniaFull environmental prestudy submitted (see next slide)No aerial recon required (not mating season of Blue Whales)Dedicated marine mammal observers equipped with night vision binoculars.5 Whale sightings one shutdown required

Minimise disruption to cetaceans

          Client Health, Safety and Environment Policy           Environment Australia Guidelines for Minimising Acoustic Disturbance to Whales          Environment Australia Whale and Dolphin Sighting Report

          Guidelines in place and adhered to          ‘Soft start’ procedures          10 minute continuous whale watch every hour          Stop work procedures if whales within 3 km          Responsibilities for monitoring and recording           Sighting reports completed and returned to Client and Environment Australia

Minimise disturbance to benthic habitats

           Client Health, Safety and Environment Policy

          No anchoring of the vessel will take place during the survey          Recording and reporting of all items lost overboard

Minimise interference with commercial fishing

          P(SL)A 1967, Section 124           Operations carried out in a manner that does not interfere with fishing to a greater extent than is necessary

Minimise interference with shipping traffic

          AMSA requirements          P(SL)A 1967, Section 124

          Written and radio warnings to shipping          Operations carried out in a manner that does not interfere with navigation to a greater extent than is necessary

Minimise effects of sewage discharge

          Client Health, Safety and Environment Policy           P(SL)A Schedule 1995, clause 222(4)          MARPOL 73/78 Annex IV

          Procedures for treatment and disposal of sewage are in place          Sewage treatment system operational and includes maceration and disinfection          Relevant discharge requirements are adhered to.

Minimise occurrence of fuel and oil spills

          Client Environmental Policy           MARPOL 73/78 Annex I          AMSA Marine Notice 6/1995          P(SL)A Schedule 1995, Clause 220          P(SL)A Schedule 1995, Clause 285          Vessel Oil Spill Contingency Plan          Vessel SOPEP (Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan)

          Procedures comply with MARPOL 73/78 requirements          MARPOL Oil Record Book kept up to date          Fuel spill contingency procedures are in place and operational          Designated containment areas onboard the vessel for storage of oils, greases and streamer fluid          Sufficient spill response equipment on board          Appropriate actions are taken to minimise pollution          Any spills >80 litres are reported to the Designated Authority          Personnel responsibilities are clearly identified

Minimise potential impacts of solid and hazardous wastes

          Client Health, Safety and Environment Policy          MARPOL 73/78 Annex V

 

          Correct segregation of solid and hazardous wastes          A vessel Waste Log Form is kept detailing quantities of wastes transported ashore           Procedures comply with MARPOL requirements

Objectives Standards Criteria

Mitigation MeasuresMitigation Measures

• Pre-Survey studies

Environmental Impact – level as necessary

Fisheries – as warranted

• Marine Mammal Observation and Recording

Dedicated or Shared

Night Vision Binocular

Soft Start of Source

• Fishery Representative Onboard

Chase Vessel for Communication – local rep

Constant Communication

• Environmental Incident Recording and Training

Vessel Pac Bal Arc Nal# of Reports 5 3 3 2

Typical Reports18/06/2002 ARC-24 A small leak of oil sprung from a hydraulic pipe union by the compressor oil tanks. No record of amount of oil but believed to have been mostly contained on deck29/05/2002 GDN-88 It was noticed that the buckets of food waste contained teabags and plastic bags.04/05/2002 GDN-101 A plastic bag was seen discharged with the food waste.14/03/2000 PAC-12 While waiting on weather with streamers deployed, streamer one parted. 150 litres of kerosene spillage.11/06/2000 PAC-37 The observer on duty was draining a damaged streamer section for kerosene. 15 litre spillage, contained on deck.22/02/2002 PAC-7 A Person was observed throwing a plastic water bottle overboard.22/06/2002 PAC-34 During the cleaning and washing on the forecastle deck it was observed that one of the deck hand trew a piece of plastic overboard. 

Incident Reports 2000-2001Incident Reports 2000-2001

Effects of SeismicEffects of Seismic

Environmental

Short TermLong Term

Fisheries

Short Term Long Term

Economic

Oil & Gas ExplorationLocal Economy

FutureFuture

• Studies of effects on Marine Mammal and Cetaceans

• Species• Individual • Population

• Monitoring Techniques

• Improved Observation and Recording• Technical Monitoring Improvements

1 10 100 1k 10k 100k 1MFrequency

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

Cetacean Monitoring SystemCetacean Monitoring System

Level dB re 1 microPascal

@ 1 m

Cetacean Monitoring SystemCetacean Monitoring System

ConclusionConclusion

• The Seismic Tool – What we as an Industry do

• Environmental Goals – As Regulated and More

• Areas of Operations – Oceans of the World

• Mitigation Measures – Within Operational Framework

• Effects of the Seismic Tool – Geophysical Oil& Gas

• Future – Study, Discuss, Implement

Use technologies as available

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